Honesty Is the Best (and only) Policy

11/9/2015

A major New York bank pays $14.8 million to the SEC to settle allegations of corruption for handing out internships to relatives of foreign oﬃcials. An infant formula manufacturer agrees to pay $12 million after its Chinese subsidiary made improper payments to inﬂuence healthcare professionals to recommend its product.

A major tire and rubber company coughs up $16 million to settle SEC charges that its subsidiaries bribed oﬃcials in Kenya and Angola.

As the above examples show, doing business globally demands a special astuteness. As cultural and political climates vary from country to country, so does the potential for making false steps. Even innocent actions can be dangerous without experience and a well--formed knowledge of foreign laws, customs, and best practices.

As does every subsidiary of Atlas® World Group, Inc., Atlas® International considers compliance with the law to be of prime importance. Accordingly, it maintains a proactive eﬀort to prevent, detect, and deter criminal actions in the conduct of its business. The eﬀort takes special attention, since Atlas International operates in countries all over the world.

“We are committed to doing business ethically and legally throughout the world,” says Laura Hatton, Vice President of International Operations. “We support our commitment with standards and controls, ongoing training and communication, and periodic risk assessments.”

Employee training emphasizes sensitivity to both foreign laws and U.S. laws that apply to foreign operations. When uncertain about a situation, employees consult Atlas World Group’s Legal Department for advice on how to proceed. Compliance is job one.

The Stakes Are BigThe World Bank estimates that more than $1 trillion in bribes will exchange hands this year. In its most recent calculation (2013), The World Economic Forum pegs the economic cost of corruption worldwide to be 5 percent of GDP, or roughly $2.6 trillion. For those caught in such misconduct, the ﬁnes can be hefty–and the attention can undermine a company’s name and standing.

“Every employee in our organization is accountable for compliance,” says Laura. “Our standards also apply to our suppliers and service partners. Each must agree and sign oﬀ on them as a condition of working with us. Our commitment to integrity, honesty and transparency extends to every entity and every aspect of our business.”

Atlas International follows the best practices outlined by the Organizational Guidelines of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, namely seven key criteria for an eﬀective compliance program. The company also conforms to the FCPA, a bribery law with worldwide reach. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 makes it unlawful to give money or provide “anything of value” to foreign oﬃcials in an attempt to acquire or retain business. Atlas also complies with the local anti-corruption laws in all countries where it does business.

Featured

Atlas® Van Lines Agents think ‘the bigger the better’ when it comes to spreading awareness about food insecurity. In partnership with Move For Hunger,™ a nonprofit that encourages donating food instead of moving it, our moving and storage companies are sharing the message from the largest billboards they could find – their moving trucks.

What if you could walk through your customer’s home from the other side of the world? Or see every text message thread from your customer throughout the move? Or get immediate feedback for improving service on a move while it is taking place? You Can.

Each month, thousands of families go new places® with the help of Atlas® Agents. And each month, expressions of gratitude pour into Atlas via post-move surveys. It’s no wonder the comments often read like fan mail. People go hundreds, even thousands of miles, to get to a new home, a new community, a new job. Throughout their journeys, Atlas Agents provide service that is reliable and reassuring.

In late September, southwest Indiana celebrated a year of major milestones and recognized six individuals for their commitment to regional business at the Annual Meeting and Dinner held by the Southwest Indiana Chamber. One of the individuals honored was Atlas® Chairman & CEO Glen Dunkerson, who was named the 2016 Richard A. Schlottman Business Person of the Year.

Events

In fact, the overarching message for Atlas at the SHRM show was to ease customers’ minds about the relocation process. To demonstrate how Atlas PVO’s and pack/load team members are friends that customers can trust with their household belongings, two life-size cardboard cutouts of crew members stood in the booth for photo opportunities, while attendees were encouraged to share their selfies with the hashtag #MyFriendsAtAtlas.

A group of representatives from multiple Atlas Agencies and Atlas HQ trekked to Las Vegas in late June to set up shop at the annual Convention and Expo of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). In total, more than 630 exhibiting companies filled over 30 aisles with human resource solutions at the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it the largest expo SHRM has ever held.

In 2015, Alexander's Mobility Services (0217) celebrated 20 years of service in the Nashville area, and they did it in a big way. As the largest multi-location agent in the Atlas family, Alexander's moved their Tennessee operations into a new location on the northwest side of the city.